Cech aiming for back-to-back European triumphs

After becoming the only holders ever to be eliminated from Europe's premier competition at the group stage, the goalkeeper says the Blues are hoping to make more positive history

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed the prospect of becoming the first team to win the Champions League and Europa League back to back is fuelling the Blues' European campaign.

The London side became the first-ever Champions League holders to be eliminated from the group stage earlier this season, but have since seen off the likes of Rubin Kazan and Sparta Bucharest to secure a Europa League semi-final clash with Basel.

And Cech insists playing in Europe's second-tier competition is not the hindrance it is often seen as, and is instead a great opportunity to bolster the club’s trophy cabinet.

"It's a semi-final of the Europa League, [and] we would like to win it," Cech said. "We could be the first team in history to have won the Champions League and the Europa League back to back. That would be a great achievement.

"This is the aim. It would be another European trophy to put in the trophy room at Stamford Bridge, and I think it would be something we would be proud of, and it would make the season successful, and it would make the fans happy.

"Obviously the Champions League is the Champions League, but this is another European cup. If you win the Europa League you can play the Super Cup again. We got it terribly wrong in the Super Cup last year and we would have another chance to win [it]."

Fernando Torres has been Chelsea’s sole available striker in the Europa League this term following the sale of Daniel Sturridge to Chelsea and Demba Ba’s ineligibility after representing Newcastle earlier in the competition.

And the Spaniard has impressed in Europe this term, notching nine goals in 16 appearances - a much-improved return on his Premier League form - and Torres has hailed the impact of the club’s recent signings on his improved output.

"Every day you learn new things and you change a little bit," Torres added. "You are the kind of player that you are all your life, but I think the key is to adapt to a new system, new players, a new style of football, and that takes some time.

"In my case maybe more than it should, but after a couple of seasons here I can see how different the team is compared to when I arrived, with different players."

Fernando Torres and Petr Cech were speaking to Uefa.com ahead of the Uefa Europa League match between Chelsea FC and FC Basel 1893, to see the full interview go to UEFA.com/EuropaLeague